In October 2024, the PGA Tour announced it was making significant changes to key sections of its competitive structure.
In addition, the historic US circuit confirmed it would largely be eradicating Monday qualifying spots from its events and – starting in 2026 – only the top-20 pros on the Korn Ferry Tour would earn full PGA Tour status compared to the 30 it had previously offered.
Those who backed the decision insisted it would make the historic US circuit more competitive while lessening the likelihood of rounds taking five-plus hours and the cut being made on a Saturday as players finished off.
It was also stated that the tweaks were designed to offer a greater level of certainty for those with status in terms of when and where they would be competing throughout the campaign.
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On the flip side, plenty of people – including a healthy number of top-level pros – criticized the PGA Tour for “hiding behind the issue of slow play,” saying that reducing the number of cards on offer and the size of fields was a bad idea.
Lucas Glover – who was only recently voted Player Advisory Council chairman – called the decision “terrible” at the time.
More than a year has passed since the PGA Tour’s verdict was rubber-stamped, and the emotions on both sides have cooled off somewhat with time to witness the changes in full effect.
Speaking to Golf Monthly, Korn Ferry Tour pro James Nicholas suggested he is in favor of the overall alterations simply because there is more clarity for pros now.
Nicholas said: “I think it’s easy to say there should be more PGA Tour cards for the Korn Ferry Tour, but there are a lot of different variables going on. They’re reducing the number of PGA Tour cards and they’re reducing the field sizes.
“Say they gave 50 PGA Tour cards out. You don’t want to be the 50th guy and be like, “Oh, I’m on the PGA Tour” and then find out when the season starts that you actually don’t get into any events because the field sizes are 120 and you’d be 20 spots out.
“So,…
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